fiberglass leaning post / bait well - plug for a mold
 

I wanted a copy or 3 of this leaning post bait well for my 20 sf and 23 sf so i decided to try to make a mold from plugging the original. I started by fixing some imperfections and then sanding. I Started with 320 then went to 400 grit. Once it was slick I cleaned it with acidtone then started the waxing process. It took 3-4 hours to fully wax, haze, wipe down and reapply the 5 coats of wax. Sprayed a few coats of a high build white primer over the wax then let dry. I cut a small circle of primer out of the top of the bait well for the aid of an air chuck to help in breaking the unit free. Cut the csm and prepped the pieces for glassing. The lay up took a little over 4 hours to do. It took around 5 gallons to coat it completely with 3 full layers of csm. Didn't get any pics of the lay up due to the grueling pace required to laminate the unit but got some before and after shots. Today I plan on trying to add the air chuck into the mold that got forgotten while glassing then I will add some stiffeners and several more coats of glass. This project has been a little more difficult than I thought. I have done several one off mdf melamine molds or formica molds but plugging a pre made unit is a bit different. I just hope it pops off easily or some what easy. I was planning on using pva but forgot to order any so I hope the mold release dose it's job

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What's the inside of the well part going to look like?

I'm in the same boat with my 20sf project. Can't decide to build or buy new or modify the existing one.

The original is just a foam insulated she'll with no tank. I was going to get a round prefab plastic tank to mount under the post and cut a lexan window for the well section. I'm guessing a 2' diameter 30 gallons well would work. It might have to be shimmed up to get the height right to work with the door section but think this would be easier than building.a fiberglass unit into the leaning post. Plus it would be easier to remove the post to access the separate mounted well underneath.

Tried to pop it out once it sat and cured in the heat over night. The lower lip came loose easily but the large areas wouldn't budge. I didn't think it would but wanted to see how loose it was. I cut out a place to add the air chuck. Glassed it in with some thickened resin and scrap fibers. I used a little bead mask to seal the hole off so the resin wouldn't plug up the fitting. Couldn't find the clay and the bead masking worked almost better. Hope this will let the mold rise off more easily plus it will ade in removing the molded parts once the mold is finished and used.

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Love the air idea, but don't see much taper on the plug.

I`m also not the person to say this as my shop nickname is Gator.

Cheers,
GFS

I would limit the hose length and charge on the hose. If it decided to come unglued you could have part of it take a ride and land on something expensive or something that would bleed.

Very true, there is only about less than a inch or so on the bait well for tapper but the box area under the seat has none to very little. I wish it had more but thats how it was built originally. I would like to see the original mold at kencraft / challenger plant and see how they get them out.

Good idea, I didnt think about that. I will try to be a little safer. The resin is cured so i will find out here real soon!

Looking Good .. Wish you all the luck.. Hopefully it will come off in one piece. If not you could make a 2 piece mold. Can't wait to see the finish product..

That flange would drive me nutz!!!!!

A lot of the flange will get trimmed back or off before installation.

I started out with a lower air pressure but ended up jacking it up to 120 psi to get enough volume to get the unit to free it's self. Wedged the bottom flange all the way around to put some pressure on the post then worked it with a white rubber mallet. After purging the air on and off and adding tension to the flange wedges I let the compressor pressure build back up and purged it again then pop! It slid out about an inch and then I was able to slide it right out. It came out easier than I thought it would but not a easy task. It never would of budged with out the air chuck. The mold came out looking good. It has a few little air bubble voids that needs a little filler but overall in good shape. I will slide it back on then add a good bit more glass and some bracing. Once I get it stiffened up I will work on getting the inside flaw free.Attachment 6222

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Nice job!

Outstanding! And no Blood! Have a beer!

I'm impressed. Nicely done.

I Knew you could do it. The post says it all. No pun intended. great Job...

That came out nice!

strick

Thanks for all the kind comments. Today I used some scrap foam, wood and more glass to add some more strength to it. I slid it back on the original then I hit all the outer corners with 3 more layers of csm and resin. I added foam fillets in the radius inner corners then glasses them in to strengthen all the angles. I beefed up the flange quite a bit. I used some woven rover to build up some more thickness and to add to the strength the mold. I cut strips of marine ply and ran them across the larger areas and around the post and glassed them down. Hopefully it will be strong enough to keep it from flexing when I start using it to make new units.

Hey mike I will take one of them please. Thanks .. oh And you did saya 24 inch round live well will fit inside the flange area. I like how it does not have one yet as I plan on lowering my CG my putting mine in the bilge area 50-60gal At least that is the plan

10/4 yea I already have tanks for the bait well... little over kill but will work great

Flying Birds Sail Marine LLC. It`s in your blood. You can not deny yourself, you must eat.

You can make money with those skills. I see you think about takeapartable. We like that.
A lot. Nice thoughts and execution.

Put that in a larger hull and you have a second station...on the deck. Nice to hear.

How many are you up to now?

Very nice work! Wow I just dropped some serious $$ on a used one, not half as nice as urs! I think this style Leaning post/live well combo is the best looking in the SeaCrafts IMHO. Again beautiful!

Flying Birds Sail Marine LLC, Humm... I kinda like that...
How many? Lets see...I don't have enough fingers to figure it out. Hold on a minute let me get my shoes off.

I sense the presence of a jealous Pooh Bah.
Where`s the gahlic? Get the holy water. My bed is spinning.

make another mold off of the livewell section of your plug and pop the part and lay it up and you will have the other half of you livewell, then add a bottom to it.

I did that before I did the full mold. I was wanting to use it for doing transom mount wells.

Nicely done for sure!

Mike i have a tank mold that should fit in the leaning post, i have it built so i can pull a number of different size tanks off it

Nice.

Like to check it out some time,